Why is Baha'i considered a "revealed" religion?

[Hyperborean]

While it is monotheistic, it also adopts premises from the Dharmic religions and considers Buddha and Krishna, figures traditionally not associated with the message of Tawhid. At the same time, it avoids the notion of Karma and so can't be classified properly as a Karmic religion. I would argue that it is a bit better classified as being a syncretism, alongside Unitarian Universalism.

If one believes the Bahá’í claims, one will think that Bahaism is the latest Universal religion with superior omnipresent laws that supercede all others. From an exoteric point of view, one can draw similarities to the Perennialist notions which do take note of similar ethical doctrines among all religions. Yet, this is where the similarity ends. While Baháism strives to combine all religions in a single ‘melting pot', effectively to replace such teachings with their own. In essence, the purpose of the Bahá’í faith is like that of the communists of the 20th century or Americans of the 21st century: to spread all over the world and to be governed by the commands of a single elite group.

Between Asgard and the Western Paradise » Blog Archive » The Heretical Baha'i Faith

 

[Wandered Off]

A "revealed" religion usually refers to any religion that accepts the notion of divine revelation, as opposed to "non-revealed" religions such as deism, in which there are no holy texts, prophets, or personal divine revelation.

 

[Adib]

For a second I thought you wrote that yourself.

The Baha'i faith is considered a revealed religion because its Prophet-Founder broke away from Islam and founded an independent religion with its own holy book(s) and social principles. It is neither syncretic nor an amalgamation of older religions because Baha'u'llah, as I stated above, outlined his own specific social laws (marriage, fasting, etc) in his own religious texts, namely the Kitab-i-Aqdas, our book of laws.

If you were to argue that our teachings or laws are borrowed - which is the primary basis of the syncretic argument - then you would have to say the same for several religions. Islam's idea of Heaven and Hell is based on Christianity, and those beliefs came from Zoroastrianism. Fasting is another example: it originated before Islam yet the idea has resurfaced progressively. The social laws of religion need to evolve just as humanity's spiritual capacity evolves; it wouldn't be ideal for us to be confined to laws that are no longer compatible for a particular era.

Regarding "omnipresent laws": if you are referring to the spiritual laws of religions, then yes, they are the basic, unshakable tenets of all the great religions. They are timeless and will never be changed. Again, the social laws are what need to be replenished after centuries have passed. Putting someone to death for working on the Sabbath doesn't really work anymore. Obviously we don't believe that revelation is final, so to assume that we are the best and always will be would be fallacious. Only the social aspects of religion are superseded over time, and the Baha'i Faith is no exception. Another divine religion will come after the Baha'i Faith and supersede our social laws, and then another religion will come after that, etc.

As someone said quite eloquently about Perennialism in the comments section of the article you cited:

Baha’is are not Perennialists. Perenialists believe that all religions at their origin are one and the same. All we need to do is go back to the pristine purity of the past. By this logic, the oldest religion is likely to be most pure. Baha’is, in contrast, believe in Progressive Revelation, that God has revealed Himself in accordance with the needs of the time and place and that this has largely given rise to differences between religions. What we need to do is move forewards, not backwards.

Moving on:

the purpose of the Bahá’í faith is like that of the communists of the 20th century or Americans of the 21st century: to spread all over the world and to be governed by the commands of a single elite group

I should hope not! When the Universal House of Justice gives us invaluable advice like encouraging the exhibition of uncensorious forbearance towards others, why would we transgress it? Adherence to the Baha'i Faith is voluntary and will remain as such; our message won't be forced down anyone's throat through coercion or other means, nor will people be shunned from society for rejecting it. Those scenarios alone are at variance with countless teachings of the Baha'i Faith. We are not and never will be elitist, not as long as we contend our beliefs in the unity of humanity and showing love towards all:

"...let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path." (`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 16)

"O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory." [Emphasis added] (Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, p. 20)

On another note, Communism was a political ideology and frowned upon religion; the Baha'i Faith is a religion whose ultimate goal is the unification of mankind and has next to nothing to do with politics, other than the idea of an international court of arbitration, which is just that: a court. Meaning it won't rule the world; it's there to settle international disputes. That's our mission and nothing more. No political strings attached, no latent plans for world domination. You may want to peruse this article: http://bahai-library.com/file.php5?file=uhj_theocracy

I hope that sheds some light on the subject. And for the record, I think this should be moved to Religious Debates before this discussion progresses any further (provided it does).

 

[Bluetooth]

This was a very nice explanation Adib. Thank you!

 

[Adib]

This was a very nice explanation Adib. Thank you!

You're quite welcome. I hope Scott, arthra, or another very learned Baha'i will join in on this discussion if it continues.

 

[Popeyesays]

You're quite welcome. I hope Scott, arthra, or another very learned Baha'i will join in on this discussion if it continues.

Personally, I cannot think of a thing to add, Adib*. Good job. This kind of tail-twisting argument has been used before to insinuate non-existant agendas in the Faith before.

Remember, the Baha'i Faith may consider itself telatest and most timely revelation, it does not consider itself the LAST revelation by any means.

So, in the end, how can we be elitist?

Regards,

Scott

 

[Popeyesays]

Ilias Ahmed says:
"The Bahai religion is very incoherent and has too many contradictions. For example, Bahais believe that Mirza Hussein Ali Nuri is the promised one of all religions, and that Ali Muhammad Shirazi was the Imam Mahdi awaited by the Muslims. Islam teaches that Jesus will return in the lifetime of the Mahdi."


And that is exactly why we believe that Baha`u'llah is the Promised One of All Ages. The Bab IS the
imam Mahdi, and Baha`u'llah IS the promised return of the Christ. Baha`u'llah is in fact two years older than The Bab. Which satisfies the Shi'ih hadith: "I am two years older than my Master."


The Bab said that the Christ Spirit would return in He Whom God Would Make Manifest. Baha'u'llah is HWGWMM. He is also the Shah Bahram, The Maitreya Buddha, The Retorn of Christ, The Messiah, the Quayyum.


Sorry for the slow typing I am working hard to come back from a stroke which took my right arm and leg from me early this week. I will get them back, In'shallah!


Regards,
Scott

 

[arthra]

For me the Baha'i Faith is a "revealed" religion because it was founded on the revelation of Baha'u'llah beginning with His imprisonment in the Siyyah Chal prison on a Persian "death row" in Tehran in 1853.. which in the consideration of many should have been the "end" but was really the beginning of the revelation of Baha'u'llah.. Baha'i Faith though began in May 23, 1844 with the revelation of the Bab that He was the Promised One and with His Commentary on the Surih of Joseph that was revealed to Mullah Husayn..

So the Faith based on experiences of revelation is a "revealed" religion and has it's own revealed scriptures and rules..;laws and ordinances.

Baha'is don't believe in reincarnation nor do we accept all of what is under the name of other religions but what we do recognize is that the major religions of the world were also founded on revelation and that there is only one religion of God that has been revealed over time to varied peoples and in various circumstances... The Baha'i Faith is only the latest one to be revealed.

- Art

 

[JewishLeftist]

Your article disgusts me...to quote another commenter it's "hate speech trying to sound intelligent".

 

[PeruanoKiwi]

The holy Qur’an testifies that Almighty God is the creator and exponent of justice. It thus behooves those who submit to Him to act with justice toward all. Not just your fellow islamic brothers and sisters. Baha’is in many most-Muslim lands suffer persecution that stems from ignorance, prejudice, or negative reaction to the Baha’i belief that divine Messengers appeared after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him).

How better to demonstrate the truth of Islam than to act with justice, wisdom, and charity toward all, including Baha’is. We who are Baha’is have exerted a great effort to defend Islam at a time when so many in the West reject it because of extremist betrayal of the great spiritual truths of their faith.